~ show-speak-kindness

anaphylaxis in children

When your child has anaphylaxis there is a constant worry that never leaves you. My son will be having his yearly check up tomorrow and hopefully we will have news of an improvement. Scenes like the above movie have been rare and thankfully that was the last time he spent time in an emergency room, while in my care. His Dad has spent time in the emergency room with our son too and had the misfortune of cross contamination at a restaurant.

Even when you triple check and try to keep all known allergens out of his environment and food, there is always a chance something could go wrong.

Medical advice for anaphylaxis and what it means is at your fingertips via the internet, however my understanding it that the main problem is the immune system and what it will tolerate and what it won’t. Funny thing about immune systems they are constantly changing.

If I had a dollar for every time a well-meaning person told me that my child will outgrow his allergies I would be able to pay for fancy private schools for my children. My son will have to be monitored for the rest of his life to find out what his immune system is tolerating and what he is reacting too.

For the first 9 years of his life he could not eat any nuts and last year we got the green light for hazel nuts and almonds, Nutella was on the menu. These new ingredients were to be treated with respect, eaten at home only, required two adults present with an epi pen at the ready, in case his immune system changed again.

I am hopeful and yet a little scared for tomorrows outcome. Will we have new items on the menu or will they be taking off? Regardless of what happens I am thankful that we’ve had no emergency room visits for two years and modern medicine gives us comfort that he will be able to ‘manage’ his reactions.

Does allergies plague your family?PS – The appointment went well and we do have new food items on the menu. This means his immunity is building in strength, however he will always have the peanut allergy and the test showed an even stronger reaction. I am grateful and give thanks for each and every step in the right direction, as it has been a long and painful journey.